Method and apparatus for modular stadium seating support system

Abstract

A modular structure is assembled through a multiplicity of modules aligned in a series of horizontal rows, with each successive row being higher than the preceding row by a given height. Each row is composed of series of adjacent modules of the same height in that row, the modules composed of four vertical posts with adjacent modules sharing the same two intermediate posts between them. In alternating rows, the vertical posts are strengthened by widthwise crossbeams extending from adjacent the top of one vertical post to adjacent the bottom the next vertical post for all widthwise pairs of vertical posts in the given row. Each vertical post is anchored to the ground by being welded to a base plate assembly which in turn in bolted or anchored into the ground or concrete floor. Each module supports a concrete formed bed. The concrete bed is formed by a pair of oppositely disposed lengthwise right angle support members on each module which extend for the length of a given row and bounded on each end of the row by a transverse right angle support member. A metal bed is supported by the oppositely disposed lengthwise right angle support members in each module to form the floor of the concrete bed and concrete is poured for the entire length and width of each module to form a floor in a given row. Seats are thereafter positioned on the concrete floor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A modular stadium seating support system, comprising: a. a multiplicity of modules aligned in a series of horizontal rows having the same length, each row having a given width and height as defined by a module and a length formed from a series of adjacent modules aligned side to side, each horizontal row aligned behind its preceding row to form the multiplicity of rows having an overall width as defined by the combination of rows of modules and an overall length defined by the length of each row of modules, with each successive row being higher than the preceding row by a given height;   b. each module composed of four vertical posts, a module having a right front post and a left front post being the same height, and a right rear post and a left rear post being the same height and taller than the right front post and the left front post, with adjacent modules in the lengthwise directions sharing the same two intermediate posts between them, with the right rear post and left rear post in one row also acting as the right front post and left front post respectively in the next higher successive row, each vertical post affixed to a separate base plate assembly at one end of each post and means for anchoring each separate base plate assembly to a ground surface;   c. the vertical posts strengthened by widthwise crossbeams extending from adjacent the top of one vertical post to adjacent the bottom of an adjacent vertical post in the widthwise direction, a gusset plate being affixed to a vertical post at the location of connection and means for affixing an end of a widthwise crossbeam to its respective gusset plate, a widthwise crossbeam affixed in this manner to each front and rear post along the length of every other row of modules;   d. the vertical posts further strengthened by lengthwise crossbeams extending from adjacent the top of one vertical post to adjacent the bottom of an adjacent vertical post in the lengthwise direction, a gusset plate being affixed to a vertical post at the location of connection and means for affixing an end of a lengthwise crossbeam to its respective gusset plate, a lengthwise crossbeam affixed in this manner to one pair of rear vertical posts for each group of two modules along the length of every other row of modules, the widthwise crossbeams and the lengthwise crossbeam being located in the same rows of modules;   e. each module further including a gusset plate attached to adjacent the top of a front vertical post and an oppositely disposed gusset plate attached along the length of an oppositely disposed rear vertical post, a pair of right angle support members each having a vertical component attached to opposite sides of the two gusset plates and a horizontal component extending in opposite transverse directions to the two gusset plates;   f. each module along the length of each row further including a pair of oppositely disposed lengthwise right angle support members, the first lengthwise right angle support member having a vertical component and a horizontal component affixed to adjacent the top of the right front post and left front post, the second lengthwise right angle support member having a vertical component affixed to a position along the length of a right rear post and a left rear post at a location below the top of the posts and a horizontal component affixed to the horizontal components of the right angle support members, the horizontal components of both lengthwise right angle support members extending towards each other;   g. a first transverse right angle support member supported on a pair of oppositely disposed lengthwise right angle support members at one end of each row and a second oppositely disposed right angle support member supported on the pair of oppositely disposed lengthwise right angle support members at the opposite end in the row, each transverse right angle support member having a horizontal component affixed to the horizontal components of the lengthwise right angle support members and a vertical component adjoining a vertical component surface of a respective lengthwise right angle support member at opposite ends;   h. each module along the length of each row further including a bed positioned between the oppositely disposed lengthwise right angle support members, the bed having a floor which is affixed to the horizontal component of the oppositely disposed lengthwise right angle support members; and   i. a concrete surface poured into the portion of each row formed by the metal bed, the successive lengths of oppositely disposed lengthwise right angle support members in a row and the lengths of the oppositely disposed transverse right angle support members in the row;   j. whereby seats are affixed to the concrete surface be to elevated above the seats in the immediately preceding row.   
     
     
       2. A modular stadium seating support system, comprising: a. a multiplicity of modules aligned in a series of horizontal rows having the same length, each row having a horizontal rows having the same length, each row having a given width and height as defined by a module and a length formed from a series of adjacent modules aligned side to side, each horizontal row aligned behind its preceding row to form the multiplicity of rows having an overall width as defined by the combination of rows of modules and an overall length defined by the length of each row of modules, with each successive row being higher than the preceding row by by a given height;   b. each module composed of four vertical posts, a module having a right front post and a left front post being the same height, and a right rear post and a left rear post being left front post, with adjacent modules in the lengthwise direction sharing the same two intermediate posts between them, with the right rear post and left rear post in one row also acting as the right front post and left front post respectively in the next higher successive row, each vertical post affixed to a separate base plate assembly at one end of each post and means for anchoring each separate base plate assembly to a ground surface;   c. the vertical posts strengthened by widthwise crossbeams extending from adjacent the top of one vertical post to adjacent the bottom of an adjacent vertical post in the widthwise direction, and having means for affixing each end of a widthwise crossbeam to its respective vertical post, a widthwise crossbeam affixed in this manner to each front and rear post along the length of every other row of modules;   d. the vertical posts further strengthened by lengthwise crossbeams extending from adjacent the top of one vertical post to adjacent the bottom of an adjacent vertical post in the lengthwise direction, and having means for affixing each end of a lengthwise crossbeam to its respective vertical post, a lengthwise crossbeam affixed in this manner to one pair of rear vertical posts for each group of two modules along the length of every other row of modules, the widthwise crossbeams and the lengthwise crossbeam being located in the same rows of modules;   e. each module further including means for supporting a pair of right angle support members between oppositely disposed front and rear vertical posts, each right angle support member having a vertical component aligned parallel to each other and each right angle support member having a horizontal component extending in opposite transverse directions to the vertical component;   f. each module along the length of each row further including a pair of oppositely disposed lengthwise right angle support members, the first lengthwise right angle support member having a vertical component and a horizontal component affixed to adjacent the top of the right front post and left front post, the second lengthwise right angle support member having a vertical component affixed to a position along the length of a right rear post and a left rear post at a location below the top of the posts and a horizontal component affixed to the horizontal components of the right angle support members, the horizontal components of both lengthwise right angle support members extending towards each other;   g. a first transverse right angle support member supported on a pair of oppositely disposed lengthwise right angle support members at one end of each row and a second oppositely disposed right angle support member supported on the pair of oppositely disposed lengthwise right angle support members at the opposite end in the row, each transverse right angle support member having a horizontal component affixed to the horizontal components of the lengthwise right angle support members and a vertical component adjoining a vertical component surface of a respective lengthwise right angle support member at opposite ends;   h. each module along the length of each row further including a bed positioned between the oppositely disposed lengthwise right angle support members, the bed having a floor which is affixed to the horizontal component of the oppositely disposed lengthwise right angle support members; and   i. a concrete surface poured into the portion of each row formed by the metal bed, the successive lengths of oppositely disposed lengthwise right angle support members in a row and the lengths of the oppositely disposed transverse right angle support members in the row;   j. whereby seats are affixed to the concrete surface to form a stadium seating venue where the seats in one row are elevated above the seats in the immediately preceding row.   
     
     
       3. A modular stadium seating support system, comprising: a. a multiplicity of modules aligned in a series of horizontal rows having the same length, each row having a given width and height as defined by a module and a length formed from a series of adjacent modules aligned side to side, each horizontal row aligned behind its preceding row to form the multiplicity of rows having an overall width as defined by the combination of rows of modules and an overall length defined by the length of each row of modules, with each successive row being higher than the preceding row by a given height;   b. each module composed of four vertical posts, a module having a right front post and a left front post being the same height, and a right rear post and a left rear post being the same height and taller than the night front post and the left front post, with adjacent modules in the lengthwise direction sharing the same two intermediate posts between them, with the right rear post and left rear post in one row also acting as the right front post and left front post respectively in the next higher successive row, each vertical post affixed to a separate base plate assembly at one end of each post and means for anchoring each separate base plate assembly to a ground surface;   c. the vertical posts strengthened by widthwise crossbeams extending from adjacent the top of one vertical post to adjacent the bottom of an adjacent vertical post in the widthwise direction, and having means for affixing each end of a widthwise crossbeam to its respective vertical post, a widthwise crossbeam affixed in this manner to selected vertical posts;   d. the vertical posts further strengthened by lengthwise crossbeams extending from adjacent the top of one vertical post to adjacent the bottom of an adjacent vertical post in the lengthwise direction, and having means for affixing each end of a lengthwise crossbeam to its respective vertical post, a lengthwise crossbeam affixed in this manner to selected vertical posts;   e. each module along the length of each row further including a pair of oppositely disposed lengthwise right angle support members, the first lengthwise right angle support member having a vertical component and a horizontal component and being affixed to adjacent the top of the right front post and left front post, the second lengthwise right angle support member having a vertical component and a horizontal component, and affixed to a position along the length of a right rear post and a left rear post at a location below the top of the posts the horizontal components of both lengthwise right angle support members extending towards each other;   f. a first transverse right angle support member supported on a pair of oppositely disposed lengthwise right angle support members at one end of each row and a second oppositely disposed right angle support member supported on the pair of oppositely disposed lengthwise right angle support members at the opposite end in the row, each transverse right angle support member having a horizontal component and a vertical component adjoining a vertical component surface of a respective lengthwise right angle support member at opposite ends;   g. each module along the length of each row further including a bed positioned between the oppositely disposed lengthwise right angle support members, the bed having a floor which is affixed to the horizontal component of the oppositely disposed lengthwise right angle support members; and   h. a concrete surface poured into the portion of each row formed by the metal bed, the successive lengths of oppositely disposed lengthwise right angle support members in a row and the lengths of the oppositely disposed transverse right angle support members in the row;   i. whereby seats are affixed to the concrete surface to form a stadium seating venue where the seats in one row are elevated above the seats in the immediately preceding row.   
     
     
       4. The invention as defined in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the horizontal lengthwise distance between adjacent left and right vertical posts in each module is 8 feet. 
     
     
       5. The invention as defined in claims 1, 2, or 3 wherein the widthwise distance between adjacent front and rear vertical posts in each module is 44 inches. 
     
     
       6. The invention as defined in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the difference in height from one row to an adjacent row is between 10 inches and 22 inches. 
     
     
       7. The invention as defined in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein each vertical post is made of steel, each lengthwise support beam is made of steel, each transverse support beam is made of steel, and each crossbeam is made of steel. 
     
     
       8. The invention as defined in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the rearmost row of modules has all four vertical posts the same height and all lengthwise support beams and all transverse support beams are attached adjacent the top of each vertical post in the row. 
     
     
       9. The invention as defined in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein all structural components are color coded for ease of assembly. 
     
     
       10. The invention as defined in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein all structural components are individually piece marked for ease of assembly. 
     
     
       11. The invention as defined in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said base plate assembly comprises a base plate welded to the bottom of said vertical post and said means for anchoring each separate base plate assembly further comprises a pair of spaced apart openings in the base plate and an anchor extending through each opening and extending into the ground surface on which the base plate rests. 
     
     
       12. The invention as defined in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said base plate assembly comprises a base plate having a pair of aligned spaced apart plates affixed perpendicularly to the base plate and pivot means pivotally mounting said vertical post to said pair spaced apart plates so that said vertical post can rotate relative to said base plate, and said means for anchoring each separate base plate assembly further comprises a pair of spaced apart openings in the base plate and an anchor extending through each opening and extending into the ground surface on which the base plate rests.